Machine for washing and drying photographic sheets.



G. J. EVERETT & J. V. MGADAM. MACHINE FOR WASHING AND DRYINGPHOTOGRAPHIG SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.10, 1912.

1,077,464, Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1. W5.

Inventors yM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

I CHARLES J. EVERETT AND JOHN V. McADAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

. Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application flied October 10, 1912. Serial Io. 725,051.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES J. Evnnn'rr and J OHN V. MGADAM, citizensof the United States, and residents of the borough of Manhattan, in thecity and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Imrovement inMachines for Washing and r ing Photographic Sheets, of which the folowing is a s ecification.

The object 0 this invention is to provide a machine in whichphotographic sheets may be thorou hly and rapidly washed and drledwithout anger of wrinkling, creasing or tearing the sheets and in whichthe manual handling of the sheets is reduced to a minimum.

A practical embodiment of our 1nvent1on is represented in theaccompanying drawin s, in whichigure 1 represents the machine in sldeelevation, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine with itsintermediate portions broken away, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalsection-through the machine, Fig. 4 is a detall transverse sectionshowing more clearly the means for bringingFthe wringer into and out ofoperation, and ig. 5 is a detail view of one of the belt spreader bars,the intermediate portion of the same being broken away.

The side frames of the machine are denoted by 1 and 2, between whichside frames a tank 3 for containing the liquid bath 4 for the sheets, issuitably supported. Atthe plied to the roll 5 front of the machine aboveand into close proximity to the liquid bath 4 a wringer is provided,which wringer is herein shown as comprisingl a pair of coacting rolls 5and 6,

aving an unyieldin non-absorbcut surface and the roll 6 a yie dingporous, preferably absorbent surface. Liquid is apthe surface of theroll 5 from a liquid bath 7 carried in a basin 8, into which bath thebottom of the roll 5 projects.

The particular form of wringer herein shown and described forms thesubject matter of a copending application filed by us under even dateherewith, its serial number being 725,050, filed October 10, 1912.

Between the liquid bath 4 and the wringer is preferably disposed a waterpipe 9 arranged to direct jets of water against the face ofithe sheetafter it leaves the liquid bath 4 and before it reaches the wringer, forthe purpose of washing the face of the sheet. A cross bar 10 is alsodisposed between the wringer and the liquid bath in position forguidingthe sheet to the wringer.

Means 11 are provided for stripping the sheets from the roll 5 of thewringer after the sheets have passed between the rolls 5 and 6. Theguides 12 are proyided for guiding the sheet from the wringer onto anendless sheet carrier which is herein shown as a plurality of tapes 13passing around end rollers 14, 15, and an intermediate tightener roller16.

17 designates a rotary drum which may be heated by any well known meanssuch, for instance, as from a gas burner 18 extending into the interiorof the drum. This drum is mounted between the side frames 1 and 2, nearthe top of the machine at the rear thereof. An endless sheet carrierwhich comprises a wide belt 19' serves to pass the sheet being treatedaround the periphery of the heated drum 17, which belt passes aroundrollers 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24. The roller 21 may be adjusted angularlyby suitable devices 25 for preventing the lateral creeping of the belt19 alon the drum 17. Means are also provided for eeping the belt 19spread to prevent any wrinkling thereof, which means are herein shown asa plurality of bowed spreader bars 26, 27 and 28. Certain of these barsmay be adjusted rotatively, as, for instance, the bars 26 and 28, bynuts 29, 30, while the other bar 27 may be free to adjust itselfautomatically on the belt 19.

Fixed guides 31 are arranged in position to guide the sheets from thetapes 13 onto the belt 19.

An endless sheet delivery carrier is arranged to receive the sheetsafter they leave the heated drum 17, which carrier is herein shown as aplurality of tapes 32 passing around end rollers 33, 34. Means may beprovided for heating this sheet delivery carrier, as, for instance, byproviding a gas burner 35 arranged'across the machine beneath the saidcarrier.

Means 36 are provided for stripping the sheets from the heated drum 17and guides 37 are provided for guiding the sheets onto the tapes 32 ofthe sheet delivery carrier.

, To keep the proper tension upon the sheet being treated, as it passesthrough the machine, it is desirable that the endless tapes 13 be drivenat a slightly greater surface speedthan the rolls 5 and 6 of thewringer, t e endless belt 19 be'driven at a slightly greater surfacespeed than the endless tapes 13 and that the delivery carrier tapes 32be driven at a slightly greater surface speed than the endless belt 19.

The driving mechanism shown for the several parts, is as follows: Across shaft 38 is driven from a suitable drive shaft 39 at variablespeeds through a friction drivlng connection 40, 41, the shaft 39 beingdriven from any suitable source of power, not shown herein. A sprocketchain 42 passes around a sprocket 43 on the shaft 44 and a sprocket 45on the shaft 38. A sprocket chain 46 passes around a sprocket wheel 47on the shaft 44, a sprocket wheel 48 loosely mounted on the shaft 49 ofthe roll 5, a sprocket 50 on the shaft 51 of the roller 14, a sprocket52 on the shaft 53, and a sprocket 54 on the shaft 55 of the roller 24.A driving belt 56 passes around a pulley 57 on the shaft 55 and around apulley 58 on the shaft 59 of the roller 33. The relative sizes of thevarious sprockets and pulleys are such as to secure the constantlyincreasing speed of the different sheet carriers as the sheet passesthrough the machine.

Manually controlled means are provided for bringing the wringer into andout of operation, which means are herein shown as comprising a clutchmember 60 slidably keyed to the shaft 49 and arranged to be brought intoand out of a clutch member 61 on the sprocket 48 by a rocking lever 62connected to a foot treadle 63 by a flexible connection 64. A spring 65tends to hold the clutch members in interlocking engagement.

In operation, the advance edge of the sheet being treated is manuallylifted from its liquid bath 4 and its advance edge inserted between therolls 5 and 6 of the wringer. The wringer is then brought into operationand as the sheet is passed through the wringer its face will be washedby the jets of water or other liquid issuing from the pipe 9. Thestrippers 11 will strip the sheet from the roll 5 and the guides 12 willdirect the sheet onto the tapes 13 of the sheet feeding carrier. As thesheet reaches the upper rear end of the carrier the guides 31 willdirect the sheet onto the belt 19 and the sheet will be passed aroundthe heated drum 17 between said belt and drum. The devices 36 will stripthe sheet from the drum 17 and the guides 37 will direct the sheet ontothe tapes 32 of the endless sheet delivery carrier. If found desirable,the sheet may be subjected to further heating while on the deliverycarrier by using the burner 35. From the delivery carrier the sheet maybe deposited into any suitable receptacle not shown herein.

Any tendency on the part of the belt 19 to become wrinkled is absolutelyobviated by the use of the bowed Spreaders 26, 27 and 28,

it being understood that one or more of these spreaders may be used asfound desir able. Furthermore, the constantly increasing speed of thedifferent sheet carriers serves, at the same time, to keep a strain uponthe sheet being treated thus insuring the passage of the sheet throughthe machine without danger of becoming creased or wrinkled or torn.

What we claim is 1. In a machine for washing and dryin photographicsheets, a heated drum aroun which the sheet is passed, and anindependent heated sheet delivery device arranged to receive the sheetfrom the drum.

2. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a liquidbath, a wringer for receiving the sheet therefrom, a heated drum and anindependent means for passing the sheet from the wringer to the drum andmeans for passing the sheet around the drum.

3. In a machine for washing and dryin photographic sheets, a wringer, aheate drum, independent means for passing the sheet from the wringer tothe drum and means for passing the sheet around the drum and anindependent sheet delivery device arranged to receive the sheet from thedrum.

4. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a wringer, aheated drum, independent means for passing the sheet fromthe wringer tothe drum and means for passing the sheet around the drum and anindependent heated sheet delivery device arranged to receive the sheetfrom the drum.

5. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a liquidbath, a wringer arranged to receive the sheet therefrom. an independentheated drum, independent means for passing the sheet from the wringer toand around the drum and a sheet delivery device arranged to receive thesheet from the drum.

6. In amachine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a liquidbath, a wringer arranged to receive the sheet therefrom, a heated drum,independent means for passing the sheet from the wringer to the drum,means for passing the sheet around the drum and an independent heatedsheet delivery gevice arranged to receive the sheet from the rum.

7. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a wringer, aheated drum, an endless belt carrier arranged, to pass the sheet aroundthe drum and an end less sheet carrier arran ed to pass the sheet fromthe wringer to t e endless belt carmen 8. In a machine for washing anddrying photogra hic sheets, a wrin er, a heated drum, a elt carrierarrange to pass the sheet around the drum, an endless sheet carrierarranged to ass the sheet from the Wringer to the be t carrier and anendless deliver carrier arranged to receive the sheet from t e drum;

9. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a heateddrum, a carrier arranged to pass the sheet around the drum, a deliverycarrier arranged to receive the sheet from the drum and means fordriving the delivery carrier at a greater surface speed than thefirst-named carrier.

10. In a machine for Washing and drying photographic sheets, a carrierarranged to pass the sheet around the drum, a wringer, a carrier forpassing the sheet from the Wringer to the drum and means for driving thefirst-named carrier at a greater surface speed than the last-namedcarrier.

11. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, aheateddrum,a carrier arranged to pass the sheet around the drum, a wrin er, acarrier for passing the sheet from the Wringer to the drum and means fordriving the last-named carrier at a greater sur ace speed than thewringer.

12. In a machine for Washin and drying photographic sheets, a heatedrum, a carrier arranged to pass the sheet around the drum, a wringer, acarrier for passing the sheet from the Wringer to the drum, and meansfor driving the first-named carrier at a greater surface speed than thelast-named carrier and the last-named carrier at a greater surface speedthan the wringer.

13. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a heateddrum, a carrier arranged to pass the sheet around the drum, a wringer,an independent carrier for passing the sheet from the wringer to thedrum and an independent delivery carrier arran ed to receive the sheet.from the drum.

14:. n a machine for Washing and drying photographic sheets, a heateddrum, a carrier arranged. to pass the sheet around the drum, a sheetdelivery carrier arranged to receive the sheet from the drum and meansfor driving the delivery carrier at a greater surface speed than thefirst-named carrier.

15. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a heateddrum, a carrier arranged to pass the sheet around the drum, a wringer, acarrier for passing the sheet from the wringer to the drum, a deliverycarrier arranged to receive the sheet from the drum and means fordriving the delivery carrier at a greater surface speed than thefirst-named carrier and the first-named carrier at a greater surfacespeed than the second-named carrier.

16. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a heateddrum, a carrier arranged to pass the sheet around the drum, a Wringer, acarrier for passing the sheet from the Wringer to the drum, a deliverycarrier arranged to receive the sheet from the drum and means fordriving the delivery carrier at a greater surface speed than thefirst-named carrier, the first-named carrier at a greater surface speedthan the second-named carrier, and the second-named carrier at a greatersurface speed than the Wringer. c

17. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a drum, anendless belt for passing a sheet around the drum and means for s readingthe belt to prevent itfrom wrinkling.

18. In a machine for washing and drying photographic sheets, a drum, anendless belt for passing the sheet around the drum and a spreader barfor spreading the belt laterally to prevent it from wrinkling.

19. In a machine for Washing and drying photographic sheets, a drum, anendless belt for passing the sheet around the drum and a bowed spreaderbar for spreading the belt laterally to prevent it from wrinkling.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our invention, We havesigned our names in presence of two witnesses, this twentyseventh day ofSeptember 1912.

CHARLES J. EVERETT. J OI-lN V. MOADAM. \Vitnesses II Gnonen BARRY,

G. S. SUNDGTLEN.

